AAAR 33rd Annual Conference
October 20 - October 24, 2014
Rosen Shingle Creek
Orlando, Florida, USA
Abstract View
Air Quality Assessment of Indoor Brazilians Elementary Schools Nearby Petrochemical Industry
Ricardo H. M. Godoi, ANA FLAVIA L. GODOI, Sérgio J. Gonçalves Jr., Guillherme C. Borillo, Sarah L. Paralovo, Cybelli G. G. Barbosa, Manoela G. Arantes, Nelson A. Rosário Filho, Carlos I. Yamamoto, Sanja Potgieter-Vermaak, René Van Grieken, Yara S. Tadano, Federal University of Parana - Curitiba, PR, Brazil
Abstract Number: 296 Working Group: Health Related Aerosols
Abstract Air pollution has been framed as a basic requirement in environmental analysis of indoor and outdoor environments, given its steady increase in recent times. The mitigation of pollution released to the environment originating from the industrial sector has been the aim of all policy-makers and its importance is evident if the adverse health effects on the world population are considered. Although this concern is controversial, petroleum refinery has been linked to some adverse health effects for people living nearby. Apart from home, school is the most important indoor environment for children and there is increasing concern about the school environment and its impact on health, also in developing countries where the prevalence of pollution is higher. As most of the children spend more than 40% of their time in schools, it is critical to evaluate the pollution level in such environment. In the metropolitan region of Curitiba, South Brazil, five schools nearby industries and highways with high density traffic, were selected to characterize the aerosol and gaseous compounds indoor and outdoor of the classrooms, during 2009-2011. Size segregated aerosol samples were collected for analyses of bulk and single particle elemental profiles. They were analysed by electron probe x-ray micro-analysis (EPXMA), and by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), to investigate the elemental composition of individual particles and bulk samples. The concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the isomers of xylenes (BTEX); NO2; SO2; acetic acid; and formic acid were assessed indoor and outdoor using passive diffusion tubes. BTEX were analyzed by GC-MS and other collected gasses by ion chromatography. Individual exposition of BTEX was assessed by personal passive diffusion tubes. Results are interpreted separately and as a whole with the specific aim of identifying compounds that could affect the health of the scholars.